Water threat not new, say authorities

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004 | 11:21 a.m.

Local and national authorities downplayed a bulletin released Wednesday that reviewed potential terrorist threats to public water supplies, characterizing it as a regular reminder of security steps that have been implemented in the Las Vegas Valley.

The FBI-Department of Homeland Security bulletin was distributed on the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center to water agencies nationally. The bulletin was identified "for official use only," but contained little new information on potential terrorist threats.

The bulletin, a copy of which was obtained by the Sun, said that prior to Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorists had discussed attacks against water systems serving major urban areas, but "no specific targets were selected."

The bulletin also said that the two federal agencies "have no information that identifies a current credible threat to U.S. drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities" but said water officials should "be aware of potential vulnerabilities to inside terrorist threats."

Water agencies in Southern Nevada and nationwide toughened their security procedures before and after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the East Coast. Vince Alberta, a spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, said the agencies have gone through a federally mandated assessment of potential vulnerabilities to the region's water system, and engages in "multiple and ongoing exercises" in efforts to protect the system.

"There's no new information in this bulletin on items we aren't already aware of or haven't already addressed," Alberta said.

Metro Undersheriff Doug Gillespie said this morning that the warning was basically recycled information.

"What happens with these bulletins that come out, many of them are advising us of situations that we've been advised of in the past, reminders of dates and things of that nature and that's what this information is," he said. "This information would not be considered to be new."

He said security precautions had been taken at the water treatment plants in the Las Vegas Valley after 9/11.

Jim O'Brien, emergency management director for Clark County, said the bulletin had no specific information about any facilities, including those in Las Vegas and was distributed as a "general heads up."

"It's very generic in its approach," O'Brien said. "It said look for the obvious."

Local and national officials requested that specific details from the bulletin not be revealed, but generally the bulletin suggests beefed up security, restricted access to water systems, and background checks on those with access to the systems. The general concern is that poisonous material might be added to the water distribution system at some point.

Among the security steps already taken have been moves to prevent access to sensitive areas and guards throughout the system, Alberta said.

Kay Brothers, water authority and water district deputy general manager, said her agencies do thorough background checks on all 1,100 system employees, not only those with access to restricted areas.

Alberta said his agencies sometimes receive two or three such bulletins a day containing general information on security issues.

"This is an example of that," he said. "It is a general, informational news bulletin that water and waste agencies received Wednesday."

Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy, whose agency supplies all of urban Las Vegas with wholesale water, said her agency does all it can to safeguard the water system.

It is the system, not the source, that needs the most scrutiny, she suggested. While Lake Mead supplies 90 percent of Southern Nevada's drinking water -- and some portion of the supply for 25 million people throughout the Southwest -- it isn't regarded as a likely target because of the vast amount of water in the reservoir.

"If someone were trying to poison Lake Mead, by the time the 100th truck pulled up, you would know something was up," Mulroy said.

"We have put all the necessary safeguards in place to protect the water system of Southern Nevada to the best of our ability," she said. "We feel that the water system in Southern Nevada is safe, or as safe as it can be."

The water throughout the system is tested, including when it leaves the treatment plants, Mulroy said.

"We will continue being vigilant and checking the water quality as it leaves the plant," she said. "We check it at any number of points along the way."

Greg Kail, a spokesman for the American Water Works Association, a national group that works with ISAC, said water agencies take the bulletins very seriously, but that does not mean people should be alarmed.

"When they come, water utilities have taken them very seriously," he said. "When utilities receive this kind of information, it validates or confirms a lot of the work that has been going on. Since 2002 and even before the 9/11 attacks, there have been an extraordinary number of ways that utilities are addressing these kinds of issues."

Nationwide, the industry of private and public water providers has spent upwards of $2 billion on "aggressive steps towards increased security," Kail said.

He said the memo could be misinterpreted or used inappropriately if publicly disseminated.

"Obviously, that is not what is was intended for," Kail said. "Utilities have been very careful not to give terrorists any help at all.

"The possibility of a very sophisticated attack certainly exists, but we also want to deter the amateurs," he said. "The reason that information should be held to a 'need to know' basis is because we don't want to give people clues on the vulnerabilities on how water systems work."

Alberta declined to discuss the specifics of the bulletin.

"To discuss the specifics of these bulletins does more harm than good to public safety," he said. Alberta agreed, however, that most of the points included in the memo were common-sense steps.

"The overwhelming majority of items in this information bulletin we received were implemented more than two years ago," he said.

Alberta said no new operational activities are planned based on Wednesday's bulletin. Nonetheless, Alberta and Kail said the bulletins are an important tool in the effort to constantly evaluate security risks.

"We take them very seriously," Alberta said. "We understand the importance that water has to this community."

Kail said people should know that the agencies bringing water to their tap are doing what they can to protect the supply.

"Are water utilities a likely target?" he asked. "There are more likely targets. On the other hand, we have to be aware that it is a possibility. Water is a precious resource and people know that.

"Any attempt to contaminate it or disrupt service could have a significant impact, so we have to recognize the possibility, do everything in our power to deter it, and prepare for worst case scenarios."

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